Shaheen Afridi's Journey to Full Fitness Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
Afridi's Commitment to Recovery
Shaheen Shah Afridi, the prominent fast bowler from Pakistan, is diligently working on his fitness as he prepares for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka starting February 7, as reported by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Rehabilitation Progress
The 25-year-old athlete shared that his recovery process is on track and is being closely supervised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Currently rehabilitating from a knee injury, Afridi is optimistic about returning in time for the prestigious tournament. He mentioned, "My rehab is ongoing, with the PCB team monitoring it. I'm focusing on gym workouts and batting practice right now. I plan to start bowling next week."
Afridi also noted that this injury is less severe than his previous one, expressing hope for a swift recovery. "It's not as serious as it was last time. There's a bit of swelling on the bone. The MRI report wasn't alarming; this might not take a month. It's more like a week," he explained.
Team Performance Enhancement
The left-arm pacer emphasized the importance of the Pakistan team's overall performance as they gear up for the T20 World Cup. "There are always ups and downs in any sport," Afridi remarked. "Our goal is to learn from every experience so that we can improve when representing our country. We need to identify areas for improvement and recognize what we are doing well."
He stressed that personal achievements should take a backseat to team growth and consistency. "It's not essential to take five wickets or score a fifty or hundred in every match. Everyone is striving to enhance their game," he added.
Current Preparations and Team Form
Pakistan is currently engaged in a three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka, which is seen as crucial preparation for the upcoming global event. They secured a six-wicket victory in the first T20I, leading the series 1-0.
Reflecting on the team's recent performance, Afridi stated that Pakistan has demonstrated quality cricket over the past year and highlighted the significance of preparing overseas. "We've played a lot of good cricket over the last year. Playing matches in a country before a tournament is beneficial for the players, and I hope it proves advantageous this time as well," he remarked.
In the T20 World Cup, Pakistan is placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States. Their campaign will kick off against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.